April 17, 2010

Good turn out – plenty of songs.

Richard Thompson wrote two songs for the other night's entertainment (well, maybe not just for the other night): Beeswing sung by Frank Brennan and Farewell, farewell sung by Clare McGuirk. The Boatman of Lough Key, Jim Flynn was remembered in song by Breege and his brother Tom's composition, My native town of Boyle was sung by Nora. Eileen was in great voice on all her songs, particularly The water is wide.

The Raggle-taggle gypsies were done justice by the visitors from Keash at the bar. Breege gave us another of her own compositions, an emigrant song about her uncle. Marion made a great job of Eastersnow [Diseart Nuadhain = Estersnow, Roscommon] and another about a greyhound. Tony went to the Lowlands of Holland, Bantry girl’s lament and more...

Now what did Eugene sing? Answers on a postcard please.

Sean nós cois Life: Weekend of sean nós singing in Dublin

The annual weekend of sean nós singing and dancing workshops, concerts and pub sessions is coming up in Dublin:
Sean-Nós Cois Life : 16-18 Aibreán 2010.

Tá an clár (programme and registration) ar fáil anseo: http://www.seannos.ie/

Workshops in singing and dancing:
Ceardlanna amhránaíochta:
Séamus Ó Coirbín (Conamara)
Eoghan Mac Giolla Bhríghde (Tír Chonaill)

Ceardlann damhsa ar an sean-nós:
Eibhlín Sonaí Choilm Learaí Ní Chonghaile (Conamara)

Aíonna speisialta na féile (Special guests)
Eibhlín Sonaí Choilm Learaí Ní Chonghaile (Conamara)
P. J. Sonaí Choilm Learaí Ó Conghaile (Conamara)
Breanndán Ó Beaglaoich (Corca Dhuibhne)
Maidhc Dainín Ó Sé (Corca Dhuibhne)
Briocán Bairéad (Conamara)
Séamus Ó Coirbín (Conamara)
Eoghan Mac Giolla Bhríghde (Tír Chonaill)
Yvonne Ní Loideáin (Conamara)
Muireann Ní Cheannabháin (BÁC)
agus daoine eile nach iad.

20 March 2010 Boyle singers

The spring is definitely here and although the daffodils are a little slow to bloom, St. Patrick's Day was balmy - can you believe that! What happened to the tradition of 'it always rains on (our) parade'?

The singers were in fine fettle after the festivities of the week and kept the songs going well on into the night.

Some of the gang had headed north to the Inish Owen singing weekend and reports came back that they were having a ball. We hope they have some new songs for us from the gathering and that they'll be word and note-perfect by April.

Agus amhráin Chásca:

20th Feb 2010 in Boyle

Some regulars missing in action in February but more visitors arrived to make up the numbers for a very enjoyable night in Dodd's.

We're getting into the Spring season in style now - come along with old songs and new on March 20th, the 3rd Saturday of the month.

Our New Year's resolution is to start at the earlier time of 9.30 - so that we can get all the songs in before the end of the night.

Happy St. Patrick's Day and see you right after that in Dodd's Crescent Bar.

19 Jan 2010 - You brave young sons of Erin's isle ...

You brave young sons of Erin's isle, I hope you will attend a while...

Take a song, any song, the one in the title of this post or any of the other forty five that were heard the other night and get the story. Here's just one about Tipperary (with helpful information from Tim Dennehy's website , a site about the Carden name and most of all Eccentric lives, peculiar notions / by John Michell):

Carden's Wild Domain

Of all the places in this world no matter where I roam,
I love you dear old Erin's Isle my own ancestral home.
Where'er I stray by night or day fond memory draws my brain
To the happy pleasant days I spent around Carden's Wild Domain.

[...]

So rise you men of Bearnán and get ready for the fray
And join the noble General McSweeney from Killea.
Led on by those great mountaineers those lands we'll soon regain
And we'll plant our homesteads once again around Carden's Wild Domain.

The story of John Rutter Carden (born 1811) of Barnane Castle, Tipperary, is briefly this:

Carden inherited Barnane Castle which had been neglected. The tenants had ceased paying rent and didn't want to start again. As Carden insisted on collecting rents, tenants tried repeatedly to kill him. Carden became known as "Woodcock" Carden, as he dipped and dived like that bird. Once, he overpowered two would-be assassins, marched them to jail and had them hanged. The castle was remodelled to withstand assaults. Carden had a swivel-mounted cannon among his attack-resisting weapons.

Then, in his forties, "Woodcock" Carden fell in love with a young girl, Eleanor Arbuthnot, 18 years old at the time and an heiress. He believed that she loved him and that only for her family holding her prisoner, would have declared her love. He pursued her to Scotland, abducted her and was tried and convicted of kidnapping. Many songs were composed about him and the song, "Carden's Wild Domain," was very popular in Ireland.

Carden died in 1866.

Eleanor Arbuthnot apparently never married.

Barnane Castle is now in ruins.

Read more about the 'dreadfully persistent lover', John Rutter Carden in Eccentric lives, peculiar notions / by John Michell

Kate McGarrigle RIP

Sad to report that that great singer, Kate McGarrigle, passed away on Monday, 18th January 2010, aged 63.

Here's an article about her from the Canadian Globe and Mail newspaper.

And a video clip:

Singing events in 2010

It's time to start planning out trips to the best Singing events coming up in 2010. The first one that comes to mind is the Inishowen Traditional Singers' Circle weekend in March.

Here's an outline of the details:

“For 21 years is a mighty long time”
Celebrating 21 years of the Inishowen Folk Song and Ballad Seminar
Dates: 19 – 22 March 2010
Clonmany / Ballyliffin, Inishowen, Co. Donegal
Featuring: Jim McFarland, Len Graham, Micil Quinn, Colm O’Donnell, Peta Webb, Máire Ní Chéilleachair and Derek Williamson

The Inishowen Traditional Singers also hold a monthly session, usually the second Friday of the month.